Big picture
San Francisco leaders have announced plans for a major earthquake safety and emergency response bond slated for the 2026 ballot. The measure would fund seismic upgrades to critical infrastructure, emergency response facilities, and public safety systems to better prepare the city for major disasters.
Why it matters
This bond reflects a growing recognition that resilience is infrastructure. Aging buildings, emergency facilities, and response systems are liabilities during disasters, and retrofitting them is far cheaper than rebuilding after failure. Voters will be asked to weigh long-term risk reduction against near-term borrowing costs — a debate other Bay Area cities are likely to face as well.
